Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle strain, and bilateral pes planus due to new evidence. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, MDD, Anxiety, Unspecified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder), and alcoholism have been reopened. The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to support these claims and grants them.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion, and a need for an adequate VA examination and opinion in accordance with the Court's order.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 31, 2013 and denied for a higher rating. From January 31, 2013 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD and major depression, recurrent; sub-threshold PTSD ratings are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive neurosis has been reopened and granted. The claims for residuals of a head injury and lumbar spine strain with right leg shortening are remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records.

This decision grants the Veteran's request for VA outpatient dental treatment. The Board denied service connection for left and right elbow disorders, cardiomyopathy, and denies initial ratings for rheumatoid arthritis, left foot calcaneal spur, hypertension, and GERD. Service connection is granted for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis, and the claim for this issue is granted. The appeal regarding left foot plantar fasciitis and pes planus is dismissed as no new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service and granted service connection. However, the issue of service connection for MDD remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a current disability.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated noncompensably disabling, and higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence of two or more symptoms warranting a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.,The Veteran's ED is currently rated noncompensably disabling as there is no deformity shown. ,The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated noncompensably disabling, and higher ratings are not warranted due to lack of evidence of prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board has denied clothing allowances for knee braces and insoles, but has remanded the issue of back brace allowance due to lack of clarity in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that other psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Personality Disorder are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD. However, the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression, is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, chronic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression and anxiety), and insomnia. The Veteran's claims are not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depression. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claim for coronary artery disease and hypertension was denied as there is insufficient evidence to associate these conditions with service.